Survey could change hunt going forward

Thursday

Nov 15, 2012 at 10:42 PMNov 15, 2012 at 10:44 PM

Next year at this time, northern Michigan hunters may have to be more selective in the deer they harvest.The Department of Natural Resources has received responses from a survey that will decide the fate of a proposal to establish mandatory antler restrictions in much of the northern Lower Peninsula.

Mark Spencley

By MARK SPENCLEYmark@cheboygantribune.comNext year at this time, northern Michigan hunters may have to be more selective in the deer they harvest.The Department of Natural Resources has received responses from a survey that will decide the fate of a proposal to establish mandatory antler restrictions in much of the northern Lower Peninsula. "We have received the responses and we are collecting all that data right now," said Ashley Autenrieth, deer specialist with the DNR. "We should have the results ready to share with the pubic by the first of the year."The DNR helped dispense the survey and collect the data, but the proposal was initiated and funded by The Northwest Michigan chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association and Leelanau Whitetails. If this groups proposal comes to fruition, bucks would need at least three antler points on one side to be considered legal in Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Missaukee, Mason, Osceola, and Wexford counties.Judging by the 12 informational meetings that took place over the summer, the proposal has more supporters than detractors."The meetings went very well," explained Autenreith, who attended many of the meetings to answer biological questions and offer an unbiased perspective on the proposal. "The turnout was good, usually around 75 people and the audiences seemed pretty receptive. There were always a few people with some concerns, but it seemed to be pretty well received."Hunters who received and 2011 deer harvest survey and filled it out, indicating they hunted in one of the 12 counties affected by the proposal, received the surveys."Under guidelines adopted by the Natural Resources Commission, mandatory regulations proposed by sponsoring organizations will only be implemented where a clear majority of 66 percent support among hunters in the proposed area is documented," read a report issued by Autenreith. "Support will be determined by a survey mailed to a sample of hunters who indicated on the 2011 DNR deer harvest survey that they hunted deer in one of the 12 counties. Surveys will be mailed starting in August."This proposal, which was announced earlier in the spring, followed an identical plan that was put in place in Leelanau County and yielded very positive results."The antler restrictions in Deer Management Unit 45, which is Leelanau County, went in place in 2003 on a trial basis," explained Autenreith. "The restrictions became official in 2007."Since the antler restrictions went into place, Leelanau County hunters have consistently harvested more mature bucks. Though, bigger bucks isn't the goal of the DNR, it does acknowledge a byproduct of restricted buck harvest is more big bucks."From a wildlife perspective, this is a tool to graduate 50 percent or more 1 ½ year old bucks to the next year," Autenreith explained. "One side effect of that is more mature bucks being harvested. That's what we've seen in Leelanau."Though big bucks have become more commonplace in Leelanau County, the conditions that affect deer vary greatly across the 12-county proposal region. "Leelanau is pretty unique," Autenreith noted. "They have great habitat and great soil. The effects of winter aren't as strong there as they are in areas like Kalkaska or Antrim either."How antler restrictions would impact the deer herd across a region as vast and varied as northwest Michigan will only be known if the proposal receives enough support to be passed on a trial basis. This would be a fairly significant change for northern Michigan hunters. Currently hunters can kill two bucks per season, the first of which has to have at least one antler that is three inches long or longer. The second buck has to have four points or more on one side. Under the QDMA proposal, two bucks would still be permitted, but the first would have to have three points or more on one side with the second having four or more on a side.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.